Binder for loose leaf books



April 12, 1938. T. E. HEETER 2,113,840

' BINDER FOR LOOSE LEAF BOOKS Filed Feb. 1,2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 12, 1938,

r T. E. HEETER BINDER FOR LOOSE LEAF BOOKS Filed Feb. 12, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVEA/TOE: mamas 5. HEETEB/ l atented Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED" STA E PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in binders for loose leaf books. l j

An object of the invention is to provide, in a binder for loose leaf books, means for adjustment f one cover of the book relative to the other that may be easily operated, together with a locking device for. locking theadjustable cover in selectedpositionsin a constructionof the'class mentioned, a looking device that maybe. readily adjusted to accommodate it to various spacings of the posts upon which the book leaves are mounted.

Additional advantages ofthe construction will V 153 beapparent from the following detailed description thereof taken on connection with the accompanying drawings in-which Fig. 1 is a plan viewof the binder.v Fig. 2 isan edge view.

- s Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the details of the locking mechanism.

.Fig. 4 is a vertical section takensubstantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. k

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the locking lever and 5;,the associated adjusting nut cooperating therewith. I

. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the construction shown in unlocked position.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section substantially on th 39 line 1'| 0f Fig. 6. j I

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially onthe line 88 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section Fig. 3. H o v Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a disassembled view of parts of the locking mechanism in reverse position.

Fig. 12 is a disassembled detail view of the locking plate.

A construction of the present invention is em-. bodied in a book binder which comprisesa lower tube I having rigidly secured thereto spaced posts 2. The posts are in the formof rods, the ,ends of which extend through openings in the tube 45,. and are riveted in position by rivet heads 3 in as the line 9-9 of tube and posts. Spaced along the inner edge of the tube I and connected therewith are hinge straps 4 that cooperate with a hingemember 5 59.. and a hingepin 6 to form a hinge connection between/the tube l and the-lower cover I of the book, the hinge being of the type commonly known as a piano hinge.

The posts 2 that upstand from the tube I are 5 made of the desired length to accommodate the Another ob'ect o-f'the invention is to provide,

order to provide a rigid connection between the.

leaves 8 of the book, it being understood that the leaves are connected with the pins by the usual slot and hole connection. The upper cover of the book is connected to the posts 2 so that'its elevation in respect to the cover I may be adjusted to accommodate a leaf stack of different thicknesses and the upper cover is made removable so that the leaves may be assembled with the posts 2 and removed therefrom by slipping the leaves over the tops of the posts. It will be understood that, for the purpose of removal and for the purpose of adjustment of the elevation of the top cover, it is necessary to associatethe' connectingmeans for the top cover with the posts in such a way that the cover maybe locked at different elevations to the posts and may. be unlocked for removal and adjustment. v

.It is particularly with this construction that the present invention is concerned. The means connecting the top cover with. the posts includes a tube 9 having spaced openings l0 therein adapted to generally register with and fit over the posts 2. The top cover ll of the book is connected to. the tube 9 by a hinge connection of the same construction as the hinge connection between the lower cover of the book and the lower tube, comprising the hlnge straps 4, the hingemember 5 and the hinge pin 6.

The lock construction is mounted within the tube 9 and comprises a bracket associated with each post, said bracket including a bottom plate [2 having an oblong opening l3 therein with upstanding lugs M at each end; Mounted within each bracket is a locking plate l5, said locking plate having an irregularly shaped opening, the

- The free edge of the locking plate I5 is held normally in a downwardly inclined position by means of a U-shaped spring l8, one end of which is connected with the locking plate l5 by inserting the extremity of the spring l8 in an opening H] in the plate. The opposite arm of the spring is seated in the bracket. This construction provides means for resiliently holding the locking plate, in inclined position.

.inner end lugs i l of the brackets. V

edportionsof the rods Ebpass through threaded sition, as will be understood by reference to Figs.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 6, the former of which shows the locking plates in locking adjustment, and the latter of which shows the locking plates in unlocked adjustment, it will be understood. that, by sliding the brackets longitudinally of the tube 9, the locking plates may be brought into frictional engagement with the posts 2, as shown in Fig. 3, and out of frictional engagement with the posts 2 as shown in Fig.

6, by alternately encircling the posts by the nar-.

row andwider portions of the openings in the locking plates. The pivoted relationship of the locking plates with the brackets permits the movement of the locking plates into frictional threadedportio-ns 22 at their'opposite ends. The

hooks 2i fit in ears 23 formed integral with the The threado'penings24, respectively, in a nut 25. b

It will beunderstood that it is necessary, in order that the locking position of each of the locking plates with its respective post shall be i accurately adjusted so "that the locking plates are in a position to lock both posts simultaneous 1y, that the. spacing between the brackets by which the locking plates are carried shall be accurate. In other words, both loclLnfg plates must come to a finely adjusted position in order that the lock may efiiciently operate, This fine adjustment is accomplished by the threaded adjustment between-the rods 20 and the nut 25'. The nut 25 has upstanding from its base spaced lugs26 forming" a 'seator channel therebetween' that extends transversely of the tube,

The mechanism is actuated by meansjof a'le ver which includes a cam arm 21, which arm is seated in the channel between the lugs 26 and is. "mounted in the tube for rocking motion by in serting a deflected end 28 of the cam arm in an opening in the outer wall of thetube 9 and pass ing the forwarddeflected end 29 of thecam arm through a bushing 38 supported in an opening in" the inner edge of the tube 9.

A handle including an arm 3| and a. deflected portion 92 serves to throw thecam arm 2'? and act as a detent to hold the device in locked 'po- 3 and 10 in which the deflected portion 32 is shown as snapped over the edge of one of'the hinge straps carried by the tube.

To unlock the device the arm 3! is thrown backwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 6, which move ment causes the brackets to slide. longitudinally.

in the tube 9 to bring the wide diameter in the openings in the locking plates in registration" with the posts 2.. .In this positionit will 'be 'understood thatthe tube 9 and thereby the top cover of the book may be moved've'rtically of theflposts 2 either for the purpose of removal'therefr'om or for predetermining the elevationjthereof.

Inorder to summarize the operation of the construction, it willbe understood that, in'adjusting the top cover of the book; the lever orhandle 3| is thrown to the position shown in Fig. 6. This releases the posts from impingement by the locking plates and permits the tube 9 to be freely moved on the posts. When the selected distance of the tube 9 from the tube I is determined, the lever handle 3| is thrown to the position shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 10, the movement causing the brackets to move longitudinally of the tube 9 and, as the openings in the locking plates move from the wider tothe narrower-diameter, the locking plates rise slightly toward a horizontal. position and, after the posts have passed the throats in the openings of thelocking plates, the springs tend to depress the free ends of the'locking plates, causing them to tightly impinge against the perimeters of the posts 2 and prevent their movement in respect,

" nection with the upper cover of the binder to the posts that support thepages of the book] I claim? 7 1'. In a loose leaf book binder, the combination with a lower tube pivotallysupporting a 7 posts, sliding lock plate carriers within said upper tube, locking plates pivotally carried by said carriers andhaving slots therein, each of said slots having a wide portion of greater diameter thantheidiameter of the posts, and a narrow portion tightly fitting a respective one'oi said posts, and manually operable means for simultaneously moving said carriers to'engageand disengage said narrow portions of the-slots in said locking plates with said posts. p

2. In a loose leaf book bindenthe combination with a lower tube pivotally supporting a bottom book cover, andspace'd leaf 'supportingposts rigid with and upstanding from said bottom tube, of

an adjustable upper tube pivotally supportingan upper book cover and having openings t here through forsliding engagement of said upper tube with said posts, lock'plate' carriers longitudinally movable in said upper tube, locking plates each having'a keyhole slot therein carried by-said carriers, said plates being adapted to be in en gagement with said posts'when the narrow por- I tions of the keyhole 'slotsare about the "posts and to be in disengagement with the posts when thewide portions of the keyhole slots'are about the posts, an adjustableconnectionbetween said carriers, and means "associated-withsaid connection for manually simultaneously moving said:

carriers to engage and disengage said locking plates with said posts.

3. In a loose leaf bookgbindenithe combina tionwith a lower-tube pivotally supporting a bot tom book cover, and spaced-leaf supporting posts rigidwith and upstanding. from said bottom tube,

of an *adjustabl'e upper tube pivotally supporting an upperbook cover and having openings-there through for sliding {engagement of" said upper porting an upper book cover and having openings therethrough for sliding engagement of said upper tube with said posts, lock plate carriers longitudinally movable in said upper tube, locking plates carried by said carriers and .adapted to engage and disengage said posts, tie

rods constituting a connection between said carriers, a nut threaded to said tie rods for adjusting the length of said connection, a slot in said nut, a cam arm operable in said slot to move said connection and thereby said carriers to engage and disengage the locking plates carried by said carrier, and an integral arm extending from said cam arm for manual manipulation thereof.

5. In a loose leaf book binder, the combination with a lower tube pivotally supporting a bottom book cover, and spaced leaf supporting posts rigid with and upstanding from said bottom tube, of an adjustable upper tube pivotally supporting an upper book cover and having openings therethrough for sliding engagement of said upper tube with said posts, lock plate carriers longitudinally movable in said upper tube, locking'plates carried by said carriers and adapted to engage and disengage said posts, tie rods constituting a connection between said carriers, a nut threaded to said tie rods for adjusting the length of said connection, a slot in said nut, a

cam arm operable in said slot to move said con-v nection and thereby said carriers to engage and disengage the locking plates carried by said carrier, an integral arm extending from said cam armformanual manipulation thereof, and a latch device for holding the arm against movement when the same has been moved to a position to lock said locking plates with said posts.

6. In a loose leaf book hinder, the combination with a lower tube pivotally supporting a bottom book cover, and spaced leaf supporting posts upstanding from and rigidly connected with said lower tube, of an adjustable upper tube having openings therein through which said posts extend, said tube being slidable with respect to said locking plates being pivoted for movement at one longitudinal edge thereof and each having a keyhole type slot therein for engaging and disengaging a respective one of said posts, and means for moving said carriers.

' 7. In a loose leaf book hinder, the combination with a lower tube pivotally supporting a bottom book cover, and spaced leaf supporting posts upstanding from and rigidly connected with said lower tube, of an adjustable upper tube having openings therein through which said posts extend, said tube being slidable with respect to said posts, lock devices for locking and unlocking said upper tube to said posts, said lock devices including carriers slidable in said upper tube and locking plates in said carriers, each of said locking plates being pivoted for movement at one longitudinal edge thereof and each having a keyhole type slot therein for engaging and disengaging a respective one of said posts, and springs associated with said plates for normally actuating said plates towards said carriers.

8. A loose leaf binder comprising a lower cover supporting tube, spaced leaf supporting posts connected to and extending from said lower tube, an upper cover supporting tube having holes therethrough for sliding engagement with the posts, and means for adjustably fixing said upper tube on said posts in selective positions relative to said lower tube, said means including spring urged plates mounted in said upper tube, each having a keyhole slot therein surrounding a respective post, and means for moving said plates simultaneously bodily longitudinally of the upper tube to alternately bind and release said posts.

9. Locking mechanism for loose leaf binders comprising brackets, a locking plate pivotally connected to each bracket and spring urged towards its respective bracket, each plate including a keyhole slot, and adjustable means connecting said brackets.

10. A loose leaf binder comprising upper and lower cover supporting means, loose leaf supporting posts connected to and extending from the lower supporting means, said upper supporting means comprising a tube having spaced holes therethrough to allow said tube to slide along said posts, and locking mechanism within said tube for holding said tube in selective positions on said posts including a movable bracket associated with each post, a plate pivoted to each bracket and surrounding the associated post by means of a keyhole slot, means connecting said brackets, and means for moving said brackets simultaneously through said connecting means to alternately engage and disengage said posts by the narrow portions of the keyhole slots, said plates being spring pressed into frictional engagement with said posts in the said engaging position of the locking mechanism.

THOMAS E. HEE'I'ER. 

